Category Archives: Amy

WPC – WEEK 463 – WINDOW VIEW

WINDOW VIEW! A great theme! But did enough people get a view to make it a popular theme? You’ll have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, July 15, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore everything in parentheses):

1-Willy McAlpine – 1 week (IA)
2-Elainie Hernandez – 2 weeks (IA)
3-Monica Jennings – 2 weeks (IA)
4-Deanna McClain – 5 weeks (IA, MN)
5-Sara Lockner – 6 weeks (IA, BHS, MN)
6-Suzie Brannen – 10 weeks (IA, MD)
7-Mike Vest – 9 weeks (IA, MO) <2>
8-Alexis Stensland – 12 weeks (IA)
9-Sabas Hernandez – 14 weeks (IA, OH)
10-Adam Gordon – 21 weeks (IA, MS, MO) <2>
11-Lowell Davis – 28 weeks (IA, MO)
12-Michelle Haupt – 28 weeks (IA, MO, KS, LA)
13-Brandon Kahler – 29 weeks (IA, MN)
14-Scott Degeneffe – 47 weeks (IA, FL, UT, CO, KY, IN, IL)
15-Sheri Fakhouri – 57 weeks (IA, NE)
16-Logan Kahler – 57 weeks (IA, MN)
17-Nathanial Brown – 59 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN, IRL, UK, FL)
18-Tamara Peterson – 70 weeks (IA, MN)
19-Mindi Terrell – 74 weeks (IA) <2>
20-Linda Bennett – 103 weeks (KS, IA)
21-Sarah Toot – 104 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ)
22-Angie DeWaard – 108 weeks (IA, IL) <2>
23-Dawn Krause – 112 weeks (IA, IL)
24-Kim Barker – 118 weeks (IA, CO, LA)
25-Joe Duff – 119 weeks (TX, NY)
26-Teresa Kahler – 130 weeks (IA, NE)
27-Carla Stensland – 130 weeks (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO) <2>
28-Micky Augustin – 132 weeks (IA, IL, FL)
29-Andy Sharp – 133 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA, IL, MN, WI) <2>
30-Bill Wentworth – 134 weeks (NE, MO)
31-Cathie Morton – 136 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA)
32-Elizabeth Nordeen – 139 weeks (IA, OH)
33-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 141 weeks (IA, CA, NV)
34-Kio Dettman – 143 weeks (IA)

strong>Here is the list of rules for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE:

1. The picture must be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch and take pictures challenge!
2. There is a limit of 2 submissions per person per theme. If you send me more than 2, I will use the first 2 that you submit.
3. Deadline to submit your submission is 11 AM next Monday.
4. To be considered the photographer of an image, you have to be the one that clicks the shutter. If you hand your camera over to somebody else to take a picture of you, you are NOT the photographer of that image.
5. No screen captures. This is a photography challenge. Not a “look at what I found on the internet” challenge.

There are still 2 ways to submit:
1. Email your submission to bennett@photography139.com.
2. Text your submission to my Google Pixel 8 Pro.

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks or the rules of the challenge or how to submit. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:


WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 71 weeks

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 75 weeks

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - DEANNA MCCLAIN
Deanna McClain (Iowa) – 6 weeks

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (North Grand Mall – Ames, Iowa) – 133 weeks

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Ames, Iowa) – 131 weeks

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Ogden, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Ames, Iowa) – 140 weeks

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Ames, Iowa) – 109 weeks

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Ames, Iowa) – 1 week

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 58 weeks

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa) 15 weeks

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW -ELAINIE HERNANDEZ
Elainie Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa) – 3 weeks

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW -ELAINIE HERNANDEZ
Elainie Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - MCHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt (Ankeny, Iowa) – 29 weeks

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Senbon Tattoo – Boone, Iowa) – 13 weeks

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Boone, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 144 weeks

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Boone, Iowa) – 134 weeks

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Boone County Fair – Boone, Iowa) – 113 weeks

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Boone County Fair – Boone, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - ADAM GORDON
Adam Gordon (Boone County Fair Parade – Boone, Iowa) – 22 weeks

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - ADAM GORDON
Adam Gordon (Boone County Fair Parade)

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - LOWELL DAVIS
Lowell Davis (Boone, Iowa) – 29 weeks

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 131 weeks

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine (Boone, Iowa) – 2 weeks

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 58 weeks

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings (Boone, Iowa) – 3 weeks

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (Boone County Fair – Boone, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest (Boone County, Iowa) – 10 weeks

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 48 weeks

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen (Clive, Iowa) – 11 weeks

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Early, Iowa) – 60 weeks

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW -  AMY PETERSON
Amy Peterson (Childserve – Johnston, Iowa) – 1 week

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Nevada, Iowa) – 119 weeks

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 137 weeks

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - JOHNATHAN STENSLAND
Johnathan Stensland (Ogden, Iowa) – 1 week

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Story City, Iowa) – 30 weeks

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Summerset, Iowa) – 142 weeks

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner (West Des Moines, Iowa) – 7 weeks

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 104 weeks

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 1355 weeks

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) – 105 weeks

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (Texas) – 120 weeks

WPC - WEEK 462 - WINDOW VIEW - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Texas) – 1 week

39 participants this week! This is a big number! Best we’ve done for several weeks!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Iowa (41)
+ Kansas (1)
+ Nebraska (1)
+ Pennsylvania (1)
+ Texas (2)

Here is the Year 11 list of places where submissions have been taken (submissions taken in each places):

+ Arkansas (16.5)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (2)
+ California (3)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Colorado (7)
+ Florida (13)
+ Georgia (1)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (11)
+ Indiana (4)
+ Iowa (1041)
+ Ireland (3)
+ Kansas (40)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Louisiana (8)
+ Maryland (1)
+ Michigan (5)
+ Minnesota (10)
+ Mississippi (2.5)
+ Missouri (18.5)
+ Nebraska (35)
+ Nevada (4)
+ New Jersey (1)
+ New York (17)
+ North Ireland (1)
+ Ohio (2)
+ Oklahoma (2)
+ Pennsylvania (21)
+ Puerto Rico (4)
+ South Dakota (4)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (41)
+ Utah (1)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
+ Wisconsin (2)
+ Wyoming (1)

32 states so far! 1 U.S. Territory! 5 foreign countries! Not bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple places:

+ Andy Sharp (IA, NE, MO, AR, TN, MS, LA, IL, MN, WI) – 10
+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL, FL) – 8
+ Scott Degeneffe (IA, FL, UT, CO, IN, KY, IL) – 7
+ Nathanial Brown (IA, SD, TN, GA, IRL, NIR, FL) – 7
+ Jesse Howard (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN) – 7
+ Christopher D. Bennett (IA, MO, NE, IL, IN, LA) – 6
+ Cathie Morton (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA) – 5
+ Carla Stensland (IA, MO, SD, WY, CO) -5
+ Mary Green (MI, IA, IN, IL, RP) – 5
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ) – 5
+ Michelle Haupt (IA, MO, KS, LA) – 4
+ Mike Vest (IA, MO, AR, OK) – 4
+ Kim Barker (IA, CO, LA) – 3
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley (IA, CA, NV) – 3
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS, MO) – 3
+ Becky Parmelee (AR, IA, OK) – 3
+ Sara Lockner (IA, BHS, MN) – 3
+ Micky Augustin (IA, IL, FL) – 3
+ Susanna Funk (IA, CO) – 2
+ Brandon Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Logan Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Tamara Peterson (IA, MN) – 2
+ Teresa Kahler (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sheri Fakhouri (IA, NE) – 2
+ Angie DeWaard (IA, IL) – 2
+ Sabas Hernandez (IA, OH) – 2
+ Suzie Brannen (IA, MD) – 2
+ Elizabeth Nordeen (IA, OH) – 2
+ Linda Bennett (KS, IA) – 2
+ Bill Wentworth (NE, MO) – 2
+ Deanna McClain (IA, MN) – 2
+ Dawn Krause – (IA, IL) – 2
+ Joe Duff (TX, NY) – 2
+ Lowell Davis (IA, MO) – 2

Andy now has a commanding lead to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!” Jen, Jesse, Scott, and Nathanial remain in striking distance though.

The big milestones this week were Vest joining the Double Digit Streak Club! WooHoo! Linda joined the 2 Year Streak Club! WooHoo! WooHoo! There were also no steaks snapped this week! WooHoo!

But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:


WPC - WEEK 463 - ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

If you are confused by what an ABSTRACT image, think about ABSTRACT art:

Abstract photography is a style of art that uses photographic equipment to create images that are not immediately associated with the physical world. Abstract photographers use techniques like perspective, movement, and light to transform the world into unexpected and often unrecognizable images.

Basically, you are taking a picture where it doesn’t look like what you are taking a picture of. You can do this with the focus or the length of the exposure. That is just a couple of examples.

Here is a good quote from John Suler that might help:

“An abstract photograph draws away from that which is realistic or literal. It draws away from natural appearances and recognizable subjects in the actual world. Some people even say it departs from true meaning, existence, and reality itself. It stands apart from the concrete whole with its purpose instead depending on conceptual meaning and intrinsic form….Here’s the acid test: If you look at a photo and there’s a voice inside you that says ‘What is it?’….Well, there you go. It’s an abstract photograph.”

I look forward to your interpretation.

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will see your idea of ABSTRACT in this place that loves the obtuse next Monday.

WPC – WEEK 459 – ENTERTAINMENT

Today is Jen’s birthday, so I need to start today by wishing her a happy birthday!


June 24
Happy birthday Jen!

I hope your birthday is as amazing as you want it to be. We also need to get together again at some point! Maybe even before August.

+++++++

ENTERTAINMENT! A great theme! But did enough people find it entertaining enough to make it a popular theme? You’ll have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, June 24, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore everything in parentheses):

1-Deanna McClain – 2 weeks (IA, MN)
2-Mary Green – 3 weeks (MI, IA, IN, IL, PR)
3-Sara Lockner – 3 weeks (IA, BHS, MN)
4-Suzie Brannen – 7 weeks (IA, MD)
5-Mike Vest – 7 weeks (IA, MO)
6-Alexis Stensland – 9 weeks (IA) <2>
7-Sabas Hernandez – 11 weeks (IA, OH)
8-Adam Gordon – 18 weeks (IA, MS, MO)
9-Lowell Davis – 25 weeks (IA)
10-Michelle Haupt – 25 weeks (IA, MO, KS, LA)
11-Brandon Kahler – 26 weeks (IA, MN)
12-Scott Degeneffe – 44 weeks (IA, FL, UT, CO, KY, IN, IL)
13-Sheri Fakhouri – 54 weeks (IA, NE)
14-Logan Kahler – 54 weeks (IA, MN)
15-Nathanial Brown – 56 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN, IRL, UK)
16-Jesse Howard – 56 weeks (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW)
17-Tamara Peterson – 68 weeks (IA, MN)
18-Mindi Terrell – 71 weeks (IA) <2>
19-Linda Bennett – 100 weeks (KS)
20-Sarah Toot – 101 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ)
21-Angie DeWaard – 105 weeks (IA, IL)
22-Dawn Krause – 109 weeks (IA)
23-Kim Barker – 115 weeks (IA, CO, LA)
24-Joe Duff – 116 weeks (TX) <2>
25-Teresa Kahler – 127 weeks (IA, NE) <2>
26-Carla Stensland – 127 weeks (IA, MO)
27-Micky Augustin – 129 weeks (IA, IL, FL)
28-Andy Sharp – 130 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA, IL)
29-Bill Wentworth – 131 weeks (NE, MO)
30-Cathie Morton – 134 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA)
31-Elizabeth Nordeen – 136 weeks (IA, OH) <2>
32-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 138 weeks (IA, CA, NV)
33-Kio Dettman – 140 weeks (IA) <2>

Here is the list of rules for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE:

1. The picture must be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch and take pictures challenge!
2. There is a limit of 2 submissions per person per theme. If you send me more than 2, I will use the first 2 that you submit.
3. Deadline to submit your submission is 11 AM next Monday.
4. To be considered the photographer of an image, you have to be the one that clicks the shutter. If you hand your camera over to somebody else to take a picture of you, you are NOT the photographer of that image.
5. No screen captures. This is a photography challenge. Not a “look at what I found on the internet” challenge.

There are still 2 ways to submit:
1. Email your submission to bennett@photography139.com.
2. Text your submission to my Google Pixel 8 Pro.

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks or the rules of the challenge or how to submit. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:


WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Iowa) – 1 week

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - WILLIAM MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine (Don Williams Golf Course – Boone County, Iowa) – 1 week

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - AMY PETERSON
Amy Peterson (Ames, Iowa) – 1 week

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - DEANNA MCCLAIN
Deanna McClain (Iowa) – 3 weeks

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Manchester, Iowa) – 4 weeks

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Manchester, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT -SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner (Waukee, Iowa) – 4 weeks

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 8 weeks

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen (Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest (Iowa) – 8 weeks

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Iowa) – 10 weeks

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 12 weeks

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - ADAM GORDON
Adam Gordon (Busch Stadium – Saint Louis, Missouri) – 19 weeks

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - ADAM GORDON
Adam Gordon (Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - LOWELL DAVIS
Lowell Davis (Iowa) – 26 weeks

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt (Iowa) – 26 weeks

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 27 weeks

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Slater, Iowa) – 45 weeks

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 55 weeks

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 55 weeks

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Tampa, Florida) – 57 weeks

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Tampa, Florida)

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Minneapolis, Minnesota) – 57 weeks

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Perry, Iowa) – 69 weeks

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 72 weeks

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 101 weeks

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) – 102 weeks

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Chicago Museum of Science & Industry – Chicago, Illinois) – 106 weeks

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Chicago Museum of Science & Industry – Chicago, Illinois)

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Galena, Illinois) – 110 weeks

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Boone, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Estes Park, Colorado – Prospect Mountain Road) – 116 weeks

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Rocky Mountain National Park – Estes Park, Colorado)

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (New York) – 117 weeks

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Noir – Ames, Iowa) – 128 weeks

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Mount Rushmore National Memorial – Keystone, South Dakota) – 128 weeks

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Florida) – 130 weeks

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Boone, Iowa) – 131 weeks

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Olive Garde – Ankeny, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 132 weeks

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton (Near Cumming, Iowa) – 135 weeks

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton (Des Moines Arts Festival – Des Moines, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 137 weeks

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Summerset, Iowa) – 139 weeks

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 141 weeks

WPC - WEEK 459 - ENTERTAINMENT - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (Des Moines Arts Festival – Des Moines, Iowa) – 562 weeks

37 participants this week! A pretty good week!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Colorado (2)
+ Florida (3)
+ Illinois (3)
+ Iowa (38)
+ Kansas (1)
+ Minnesota (1)
+ Missouri (1)
+ Nebraska (1)
+ New York (1)
+ Pennsylvania (1)
+ South Dakota (1)

Here is the Year 11 list of places where submissions have been taken (submissions taken in each places):

+ Arkansas (15.5)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (2)
+ California (3)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Colorado (8)
+ Florida (12)
+ Georgia (1)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (11)
+ Indiana (4)
+ Iowa (901)
+ Ireland (3)
+ Kansas (36)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Louisiana (8)
+ Maryland (1)
+ Michigan (5)
+ Minnesota (9)
+ Mississippi (2.5)
+ Missouri (16.5)
+ Nebraska (33)
+ Nevada (4)
+ New Jersey (1)
+ New York (15)
+ North Ireland (1)
+ Ohio (2)
+ Oklahoma (1)
+ Pennsylvania (18)
+ Puerto Rico (4)
+ South Dakota (4)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (38)
+ Utah (1)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)
+ Wisconsin (1)

30 states so far! 1 U.S. Terriorty! 5 foreign countries! Not bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple places:

+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL, FL) – 8
+ Andy Sharp (IA, NE, MO, AR, TN, MS, LA, IL) – 8
+ Scott Degeneffe (IA, FL, UT, CO, IN, KY, IL) – 7
+ Nathanial Brown (IA, SD, TN, GA, IRL, NIR, FL) – 7
+ Jesse Howard (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW, MN) – 7
+ Christopher D. Bennett (IA, MO, NE, IL, IN, LA) – 6
+ Cathie Morton (IA, FL, BHS, MO, LA) – 5
+ Mary Green (MI, IA, IN, IL, RP) – 5
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT, NV, NJ) – 5
+ Michelle Haupt (IA, MO, KS, LA) – 4
+ Kim Barker (IA, CO, LA) – 3
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley (IA, CA, NV) – 3
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS, MO) – 3
+ Becky Parmelee (AR, IA, OK) – 3
+ Sara Lockner (IA, BHS, MN) – 3
+ Micky Augustin (IA, IL, FL) – 3
+ Carla Stensland (IA, MO, SD) -3
+ Susanna Funk (IA, CO) – 2
+ Brandon Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Logan Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Tamara Peterson (IA, MN) – 2
+ Mike Vest (IA, MO) – 2
+ Teresa Kahler (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sheri Fakhouri (IA, NE) – 2
+ Angie DeWaard (IA, IL) – 2
+ Sabas Hernandez (IA, OH) – 2
+ Suzie Brannen (IA, MD) – 2
+ Elizabeth Nordeen (IA, OH) – 2
+ Linda Bennett (KS, IA) – 2
+ Bill Wentworth (NE, MO) – 2
+ Deanna McClain (IA, MN) – 2
+ Dawn Krause (IA, IL) – 2
+ Joe Duff (TX, NY) – 2

Jen and Andy are now tied to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!” Jesse and and Scott and Nathanial are in striking distance though! Joe and Dawn joined the group of people to submit from multiple locations.

There were lots of milestones reached this week. Alexis joined the Double Digit Streak Club! WooHoo! Lowell and Michelle joined the Half Year Streak Club! WooHoo! Micky joined the 2.5 Year Streak Club! WooHoo!

Also, there were no streaks broken this week!

But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:


WPC - WEEK 460 - BLACK & WHITE
BLACK & WHITE – Modified suggestion by Joe Duff

Joe actually suggested MONOCHROME, but I think MONOCHROME and BLACK & WHITE are very similar and BLACK & WHITE will always be a theme for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE, so I’m just crediting Joe with suggesting BLACK & WHITE.

BLACK & WHITE is my first love in photography and it is my favorite theme as well.

I look forward to seeing your interpretation!

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will see your idea of NECESSITY in this place that I hope some of you find to be one next Monday.

WPC – WEEK 450 – EMOTION

NOTE: Next Monday I will be in New Orleans and have limited access to the internet or the phone. Don’t expect any kind of reminders. You’ll have to be your own dawg.

It is the last Monday of the month and on the last Monday of the month I like to revisit our Frequently Asked Questions. Who asks these questions? I mostly ask them of myself. But that isn’t a Frequently Asked Question. These are:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE

What skill level photographer can participate?

THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE is open to photographers of all skill levels. From award winning photographers to professionals to the highly ranked amateurs to those that are just beginning to those who don’t even know how to focus a camera. All skill levels are encouraged and welcome. You can’t be too bad and you can’t be too good! Everyone has room to learn and be challenged!

Award winning photographers? Really?

Yes. I can think of at least 10 photographers that participate regularly that have won a photography award of some kind.

Is this a competition?
NO. It is a challenge. There are no winners and losers. Well the people that don’t participate are losers.

Is there a limit to the number of submissions I can have each week?

Yes. That limit is 2. If you send me more than 2, I will post the first 2 that you send. I’m not trying to harsh your photography buzz, but any more than that starts to overwhelm the other submissions and it takes me about 5 minutes to take a picture from my inbox to code it on the website. So I have to manage my workload.

If you are going to submit more than one picture, I strongly urge you to choose completely different subjects for each submission. If you are submitting multiple pictures of the same subject, make sure that each picture is saying something unique.

If I start to average like 45 participants a week, I will lower the limit to 1.

Can I send you several pictures and have you pick the best one?

No! No! NO! If those words come out of your mouth or your keyboard, I consider that to be a non-submission.

Do you ever question whether somebody’s submission fits the theme?

Meh. Only if I think somebody is clearly confusing this week’s theme with last week or next week’s theme. Otherwise, if the submission makes sense in your head, that is good enough for me. However, I would urge you to not try to fit your favorite subject into the theme every week. This isn’t a challenge to share a picture every week of your kid or your business or your pet. It is a challenge to take pictures of different things every week. Which isn’t to say subjects can’t be repeated, but you shouldn’t become reliant on the same ones.

Why can’t I submit after 11 AM on Mondays if the post doesn’t publish until 12:01 PM?

I go to lunch at 11 AM. I leave my office. I’m not near a computer. At 11 AM I hit “Schedule” and then I go throw food down my throat. 167 hours is more than enough time to send a submission. Okay, 166 hours and 59 minutes. You got me.

Do I have to wait until Monday morning to submit?

Absolutely not! In fact (AND CAN’T EMPHASIZE THIS ENOUGH) I appreciate the submissions that make it to me by Sunday evening. Makes the job of putting this together on Monday morning much easier!

Are there resolution requirements for submissions?

I won’t turn down submissions that are too small. I will probably ask you for a picture of greater resolution if it is really small. The typical 4 x 6 image posted to my website has a resolution of 1280 pixels x 853 pixels. While a 400 x 300 image might look okay on your phone, it looks like trash on a computer monitor. I prefer images that are at least 1000 pixels at their widest point, but don’t ban smaller pictures at this point. But don’t tempt me!

What format should my submission be?

.JPG but .PNG also works.

If I write a description of my image will you include that in your post?

No. Photography is art that should stand on its own. Only exception is the SLICE OF LIFE theme. But if you let me know where the picture was taken, I will include that. In fact, I appreciate you letting me know where a picture was taken. If you don’t let me know, I will assume the picture was taken in the state you live in.

When will you start accepting suggestions for next year’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE themes?

I will take suggestions only and ONLY in the comments sections of the THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE posts the last week of October and the 1st week of November.

+++++++

EMOTION! A great theme! But enough people get their emotions under control to make a submission to make EMOTION a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, April 15, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore everything in parentheses):

1-Monica Jennings – 1 week (IA)
2-Sabas Hernandez – 2 weeks (IA)
3-Suzie Brannen – 4 weeks (IA)
4-Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 4 weeks (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL, FL)
5-Willy McAlpine – 5 weeks (IA)
6-Deanna McClain – 6 weeks (IA)
7-Johnathan Stensland – 6 weeks (IA)
8-Adam Gordon – 8 weeks (IA, MS, MO)
9-Becky Parmelee – 9 weeks (AR, IA, OK)
10-Sara Lockner – 13 weeks (IA)
11-Lowell Davis – 16 weeks (IA) <2>
12-Michelle Haupt – 16 weeks (IA, MO, KS)
13-Brandon Kahler – 17 weeks (IA, MN)
14-Scott Degeneffe – 35 weeks (2) (IA, FL, UT, CO)
15-Mike Vest – 40 weeks (IA, MO)
16-Sheri Fakhouri – 45 weeks (IA, NE)
17-Logan Kahler – 46 weeks (IA, MN)
18-Nathanial Brown – 47 weeks (IA, SD, GA, TN)
19-Jesse Howard – 47 weeks (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW)
20-Tamara Peterson – 59 weeks (IA, MN)
21-Mindi Terrell – 62 weeks (IA) <2>
22-Linda Bennett – 91 weeks 129(KS)
23-Sarah Toot – 92 weeks (PA, NY, VT, NV)
24-Angie DeWaard – 96 weeks (IA)
25-Dawn Krause – 100 weeks (IA) <2>
26-Kim Barker – 106 weeks (IA, CO)
27-Joe Duff – 107 weeks (TX) <2>
28-Teresa Kahler – 118 weeks (IA, NE) <2>
29-Carla Stensland – 118 weeks (IA, MO) <2>
30-Micky Augustin – 120 weeks (IA, IL)
31-Andy Sharp – 121 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA)
32-Bill Wentworth – 122 weeks (NE)
33-Cathie Morton – 125 weeks (IA, FL, BHS, MO)
34-Elizabeth Nordeen – 127 weeks (IA)
35-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 129 weeks (IA, CA, NV)
36-Kio Dettman – 131 weeks (IA)

Here is the list of rules for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE:

1. The picture must be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch and take pictures challenge!
2. There is a limit of 2 submissions per person per theme. If you send me more than 2, I will use the first 2 that you submit.
3. Deadline to submit your submission is 11 AM next Monday. PLEASE INCLUDE THE LOCATION OF WHERE YOUR PICTURE WAS TAKEN WITH YOUR SUBMISSION.
4. To be considered the photographer of an image, you have to be the one that clicks the shutter. If you hand your camera over to somebody else to take a picture of you, you are NOT the photographer of that image.
5. No screen captures. This is a photography challenge. Not a “look at what I found on the internet” challenge.

There are still 2 ways to submit:
1. Email your submission to bennett@photography139.com.
2. Text your submission to my Google Pixel 8 Pro.

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks or the rules of the challenge or how to submit. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:


WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 132 weeks

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Honey Hollow – Summerset, Iowa) – 130 weeks

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 128 weeks

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton (West Des Moines, Iowa) – 126 weeks

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 123 weeks

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Adel, Iowa) – 122 weeks

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Ames, Iowa) – 121 weeks

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 119 weeks

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Linwood Cemetery- Boone, Iowa) – 119 weeks

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Ogden, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (Texas) – 108 weeks

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Nevada, Iowa) – 107 weeks

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Boxholm, Iowa) – 101 weeks

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Les’s Auto – Boone, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Chicago, Illinois) – 97 weeks

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Chicago, Illinois)

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Valley Cottage, New York) – 93 weeks

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 92 weeks

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas)

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Johnston, Iowa) – 63 weeks

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 60 weeks

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Wells Fargo Arena – Des Moines, Iowa) – 48 weeks

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Wells Fargo Arena – Des Moines, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Boone, Iowa) – 48 weeks

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Boone, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION -LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Simpson College – Indianola, Iowa) – 47 weeks

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION -LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Simpson College – Indianola, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Civic Center – Des Moines, Iowa) – 46 weeks

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION -MIKE VEST
Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 41 weeks

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Bardstown, Kentucky) – 36 weeks

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Indiana)

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Ames, Iowa) – 18 weeks

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - LOWELL DAVIS
Lowell Davis (Boone High School – Boone, Iowa) – 17 weeks

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - LOWELL DAVIS
Lowell Davis (HYSC – Ames, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt (Bricktown Bakery – Nevada, Iowa) – 17 weeks

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner (Near Bahamas) – 14 weeks

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee (Bella Vista, Arkansas) – 10 weeks

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - ADAM GORDON
Adam Gordon (Iowa) – 9 weeks

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - ADAM GORDON
Adam Gordon (Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - DEANNA MCCLAIN
Deanna McClain (Iowa) – 7 weeks

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - DEANNA MCCLAIN
Deanna McClain (Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine (Boone, Iowa) – 6 weeks

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen (Clive, Iowa) – 5 weeks

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Ames, Iowa) – 5 weeks

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (Progressive Field – Cleveland, Ohio) – 3 weeks

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings (Boone, Iowa) – 2 weeks

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Ogden, Iowa) – 1 week

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Ogden, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - NADER PARSAEI
Nader Parsaei (Clark Tower – Winterset, Iowa) – 1 week

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - AMY PETERSON
Amy Peterson (Dayton, Iowa) – 1 week

WPC - WEEK 450 - EMOTION - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (John Wayne Birthplace Museum – Winterset, Iowa)

39 participants this week! A great week. The slow bleed of the last few weeks has been cauterized!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Arkansas (1)
+ Bahamas (1)
+ Illinois (2)
+ Indiana (1)
+ Iowa (41)
+ Kansas (2)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Nebraska (1)
+ New York (1)
+ Ohio (1)
+ Texas (1)

Thanks to Scott’s trip we added Kentucky to the list for this year! WooHoo! Thanks to Sabas’ trip we added Ohio to this year’s list! WooHoo!

Here is the Year 11 list of places where submissions have been taken (submissions taken in each places):

+ Arkansas (10.5)
+ Aruba (1)
+ Bahamas (2)
+ California (3)
+ Curacao (1)
+ Colorado (5)
+ Florida (85)
+ Georgia (1)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (5)
+ Indiana (4)
+ Iowa (686)
+ Kansas (26)
+ Kentucky (1)
+ Louisiana (2)
+ Michigan (5)
+ Minnesota (6)
+ Mississippi (1.5)
+ Missouri (10.5)
+ Nebraska (26)
+ Nevada (2)
+ New York (12)
+ Ohio (1)
+ Oklahoma (1)
+ Pennsylvania (13)
+ South Dakota (3)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (27)
+ Utah (1)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)

28 states so far! 3 foreign countries! Not bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple places:

+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA, IL, FL) – 8
+ Andy Sharp (IA, NE, MO, AR, TN, MS, LA) – 7
+ Scott Degeneffe (IA, FL, UT, CO, IN, KY) – 6
+ Jesse Howard (IA, MO, NE, FL, ABW, CUW) – 6
+ Christopher D. Bennett (IA, MO, NE, IL, IN) – 5
+ Nathanial Brown (IA, SD, TN, GA) – 4
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT, NV) – 4
+ Cathie Morton (IA, FL, BHS, MO) – 4
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley (IA, CA, NV) – 3
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS, MO) – 3
+ Mary Green (MI, IA, IN) – 3
+ Michelle Haupt (IA, MO, KS) – 3
+ Becky Parmelee (AR, IA, OK) – 3
+ Micky Augustin (IA, IL) – 2
+ Susanna Funk (IA, CO) – 2
+ Brandon Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Logan Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Sara Lockner (IA, MN) – 2
+ Tamara Peterson (IA, MN) – 2
+ Carla Stensland (IA, MO) -2
+ Mike Vest (IA, MO) – 2
+ Teresa Kahler (IA, NE) – 2
+ Sheri Fakhouri (IA, NE) – 2
+ Angie DeWaard (IA, IL) – 2
+ Sara Lockner (IA, BHS) – 2
+ Sabas Hernandez (IA, OH) – 2

Jen is in the lead to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!” Jesse and Andy and Scott are in striking distance though!

Angie, Sara, and Sabas all joined the list of people that have submitted from multiple “PLACES” this year!

The major milestone this week was Becky joining the Double Digit Streak Club! WooHoo! The other major milestone this week is Shannon joining the 2 and a Half Year Streak Club. WooHoo! WooHoo! Woo!

But it wasn’t all unicorns and rainbows. Johnathan’s 6 week streak came tumbling down! Sacre bleu!

But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:


WPC - WEEK 451 - LETTERS OR NUMBERS
LETTERS OR NUMBERS – Slightly modified from a suggestion by Andy Sharp

LETTERS OR NUMBERS! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

I look forward to seeing your interpretation!

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will see your idea of LETTERS OR NUMBERS in this place that is nothing more than characters at its base level next Monday.

WPC – WEEK 446 – #INSTAGOOD

#INSTAGOOD! A great theme! A theme so easy that you could participate if you took one picture this week. But did many people take at least one picture to be able to send us the best picture that they took this week to make #INSTAGOOD a popular theme? You’ll have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, March 25, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Evie Gorshe – 1 week (IA)
2-Willy McAlpine – 1 week (IA)
3-Tim Panages – 1 week (IA)
4-Elainie Hernandez – 2 weeks (IA)
5-Deanna McClain – 2 weeks (IA)
6-Johnathan Stensland – 2 weeks (IA)
7-Adam Gordon – 4 weeks (2) (IA, MS, MO)
8-Stehanie Kim – 6 weeks (NY)
9-Becky Parmelee – 6 weeks (AR, IA)
10-Sara Lockner – 10 weeks (IA)
11-Lowell Davis – 12 weeks (IA)
12-Michelle Haupt – 12 weeks (IA, MO)
13-Alexis Stensland – 12 weeks (IA)
14-Brandon Kahler – 13 weeks (IA, MN)
15-Scott Degeneffe – 31 weeks (IA, FL)
16-Sabas Hernandez – 32 weeks (2) (IA)
17-Mike Vest – 36 weeks (IA, MO)
18-Sheri Fakhouri – 41 weeks (2) (IA)
19-Logan Kahler – 42 weeks (IA, MN)
20-Nathanial Brown – 43 weeks(IA, SD, GA, TN)
21-Jesse Howard – 43 weeks (IA, MO, NE)
22-Tamara Peterson – 55 weeks (IA, MN)
23-Mindi Terrell – 58 weeks (2) (IA)
24-Linda Bennett – 87 weeks (KS)
25-Sarah Toot – 88 weeks (2) (PA, NY, VT, NV)
26-Angie DeWaard – 92 weeks (IA)
27-Dawn Krause – 96 weeks (2) (IA)
28-Kim Barker – 102 weeks (2) (IA, CO)
29-Joe Duff – 103 weeks (TX)
30-Teresa Kahler – 114 weeks (2) (IA)
31-Carla Stensland – 114 weeks (IA, MO)
32-Micky Augustin – 116 weeks (IA, IL)
33-Andy Sharp – 117 weeks (IA, NE, AR, MS, MO, TN, LA)
34-Bill Wentworth – 118 weeks (NE)
35-Cathie Morton – 121 weeks (IA, FL, BHS)
36-Elizabeth Nordeen – 123 weeks (IA)
37-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 125 weeks (IA)
38-Kio Dettman – 127 weeks (2) (IA)

An observant observer might be wondering why Carla’s streak is intact. She did get a submission in at the horn, but not soon enough for it to be included in the email blast. But is up on the website. You can go look at last Monday’s post and verify.

Here is the list of rules for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE:


1. The picture must be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch and take pictures challenge!
2. There is a limit of 2 submissions per person per theme. If you send me more than 2, I will use the first 2 that you submit.
3. Deadline to submit your submission is 11 AM next Monday.
4. To be considered the photographer of an image, you have to be the one that clicks the shutter. If you hand your camera over to somebody else to take a picture of you, you are NOT the photographer of that image.
5. No screen captures. This is a photography challenge. Not a “look at what I found on the internet” challenge.

There are still 2 ways to submit:
1. Email your submission to bennett@photography139.com.
2. Text your submission to my Google Pixel 8 Pro.
3. Sometimes, for special people, for special circumstances, we can negotiate something.

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks or the rules of the challenge or how to submit. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:


WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 1 week

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Hampton, Virginia) – 1 week

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - LAYLA GORSHE
Layla Gorshe (Iowa) – 1 week

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Michigan) – 1 week

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings (Ankeny, Iowa) – 1 week

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - AMY PETERSON
Amy Peterson (Ledges State Park – Boone County, Iowa) – 1 week

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - WILLIAM MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine (Boone, Iowa) – 2 weeks

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - TIM PANAGES
Tim Panages (Ankeny, Iowa) – 2 weeks

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - DEANNA MCCLAIN
Deanna McClain (Perry, Iowa) – 3 weeks

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - JOHNATHAN STENSLAND
Johnathan Stensland (Ogden, Iowa) – 3 weeks

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - ADAM GORDON
Adam Gordon (Iowa) – 5 weeks

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee (Tulsa, Oklahoma) – 7 weeks

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner (Ogden, Iowa) – 11 weeks

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - LOWELL DAVIS
Lowell Davis (Boone, Iowa) – 13 weeks

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt (Overland Park, Kansas) – 13 weeks

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Ogden, Iowa) – 13 weeks

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Story City, Iowa) – 14 weeks

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 32 weeks

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (Ogden, Iowa) – 33 weeks

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 37 weeks

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 42 weeks

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 43 weeks

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Des Moines, Iowa) – 44 weeks

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Iowa) – 44 weeks

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Perry, Iowa) – 56 weeks

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Johnston, Iowa) – 59 weeks

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 88 weeks

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) – 89 weeks

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 93 weeks

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Boone, Iowa) – 97 weeks

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Nevada, Iowa) – 103 weeks

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (League City, Texas) – 104 weeks

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 115 weeks

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Ogden, Iowa) – 115 weeks

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Iowa) – 117 weeks

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Red Oak, Iowa) – 118 weeks

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 119 weeks

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 122 weeks

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 124 weeks

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (West Des Moines, Iowa) – 126 weeks

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 128 weeks

WPC - WEEK 446 - #INSTAGOOD - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (Mines of Spain State Recreation Area – Dubuque County, Iowa) – 550 weeks

42 participants! That is a great week! Breaking the previous high for this year held by DECORATION at 40. I believe 42 ties the all-time high. Held by the #INSTAGOOD theme from last year. But I’d have to check my records to confirm that.

Thanks to Becky’s trip we added Oklahoma to the Photography 139 Submissions Map!

Thanks to Jen’s trip we added Virginia to the Photography 139 Submissions Map! Virginia was one of the states we didn’t get a submission from in 2023! So that makes it extra exciting!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Iowa (34)
+ Kansas (2)
+ Michigan (1)
+ Nebraska (1)
+ Oklahoma (1)
+ Pennsylvania (1)
+ Texas (1)
+ Virginia (1)

Here is the Year 11 list of places where submissions have been taken (submissions taken in each places):

+ Arkansas (6.5)
+ Bahamas (1)
+ California (1)
+ Colorado (4)
+ Florida (3)
+ Georgia (1)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Illinois (1)
+ Indiana (2)
+ Iowa (444)
+ Kansas (19)
+ Louisiana (2)
+ Michigan (5)
+ Minnesota (6)
+ Mississippi (1.5)
+ Missouri (8.5)
+ Nebraska (18)
+ Nevada (1)
+ New York (9)
+ Oklahoma (1)
+ Pennsylvania (12)
+ South Dakota (3)
+ Tennessee (2.5)
+ Texas (20)
+ Vermont (1)
+ Virginia (1)

25 states so far! 1 foreign country! Not bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple places:

+ Andy Sharp (IA, NE, MO, AR, TN, MS, LA) – 7
+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO, MO, TX, TN, VA) – 6
+ Nathanial Brown (IA, SD, TN, GA) – 4
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT, NV) – 4
+ Christopher D. Bennett (IA, MO, NE) – 3
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS, MO) – 3
+ Mary Green (MI, IA, IN) – 3
+ Michelle Haupt (IA, MO, KS) – 3
+ Jesse Howard (IA, MO, NE) – 3
+ Cathie Morton (IA, FL, BS) – 3
+ Becky Parmelee (AR, IA, OK) – 3
+ Micky Augustin (IA, IL) – 2
+ Scott Degeneffe (IA, FL) – 2
+ Susanna Funk (IA, CO) – 2
+ Brandon Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Logan Kahler (IA, MN) – 2
+ Sara Lockner (IA, MN) – 2
+ Tamara Peterson (IA, MN) – 2
+ Carla Stensland (IA, MO) -2
+ Mike Vest (IA, MO) – 2

Andy holds a 1 state lead over Jen to be crowned “The Most Travelled THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Photographer!”

There were no big milestones reached this week. However, Layla submitted for the first time this year! WooHoo! There was some sadness. Evie couldn’t build on her submission from last week and her streak is over before it began. Elainie’s streak is over after 2 weeks. But worst of all, Steph’s streak goes down after 6 weeks!

But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:


WEEK 447 - PASSION
PASSION – SUGGESTED BY SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY

PASSION! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

I’m not describing the themes this year unless I think they need a little explanation. One thing to remember that PASSION is not just something you like bunches and bunches. PASSION is something you are willing to suffer for. When you take your pictures, would you be willing to take a punch to the face for this thing? Would you be willing to take something worse for this thing? If the answer is “yes”, then you have a PASSION subject.

I look forward to your interpretation!

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will see your idea of PASSION in this place that is a bit of passion project next Monday.

WPC – WEEK 439 – TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES

TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES! A potential Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest class! But was that enough to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out:

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, February 5, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Adam Gordon – 1 week (2)
2-Evie Gorshe – 1 week
3-Willy McAlpine – 1 week
4-Jason Stensland – 1 week (2)
5-Elainie Hernandez – 3 weeks
6-Sara Lockner – 3 weeks
7-Monica Jennings – 4 weeks
8-Suzie Brannen – 5 weeks
9-Lowell Davis – 5 weeks
10-Michelle Haupt – 5 weeks
11-Alexis Stensland – 5 weeks (2)
12-Brandon Kahler – 6 weeks
13-Mary Green – 6 weeks (2)
14-Scott Degeneffe – 24 weeks
15-Sabas Hernandez – 25 weeks
16-Mike Vest – 30 weeks
17-Sheri Fakhouri – 34 weeks
18-Logan Kahler – 35 weeks (2)
19-Nathanial Brown – 36 weeks
20-Jesse Howard – 36 weeks
21-Tamara Peterson – 39 weeks
22-Mindi Terrell – 51 weeks (2)
23-Linda Bennett – 80 weeks
24-Sarah Toot – 81 weeks
25-Angie DeWaard – 85 weeks (2)
26-Dawn Krause – 89 weeks (2)
27-Kim Barker – 95 weeks
28-Joe Duff – 96 weeks (2)
29-Teresa Kahler – 107 weeks (2)
30-Carla Stensland – 107 weeks (2)
31-Micky Augustin – 109 weeks
32-Andy Sharp – 110 weeks
33-Bill Wentworth – 111 weeks
34-Cathie Morton – 115 weeks
35-Elizabeth Nordeen – 116 weeks
36-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 118 weeks
37-Kio Dettman – 120 weeks (2)

Reminder. Here is the list of rules for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE:


1. The picture must be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch and take pictures challenge!
2. There is a limit of 2 submissions per person per theme. If you send me more than 2, I will use the first 2 that you submit.
3. Deadline to submit your submission is 11 AM next Monday.
4. To be considered the photographer of an image, you have to be the one that clicks the shutter. If you hand your camera over to somebody else to take a picture of you, you are NOT the photographer of that image.
5. No screen captures. This is a photography challenge. Not a “look at what I found on the internet” challenge.

There are still 2 ways to submit:
1. Email your submission to bennett@photography139.com.
2. Text your submission to my Google Pixel 8 Pro.
3. Sometimes, for special people, for special circumstances, we can negotiate something.

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks or the rules of the challenge or how to submit. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:


WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Ames, Iowa) – 6 weeks

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - AMY PETERSON
Amy Peterson (Uptown Garage Brewing – Ankeny, Iowa) – 1 week

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - AMY PETERSON
Amy Peterson (Uptown Garage Brewing – Ankeny, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Kate Mitchell Elementary School – Ames, Iowa) – 86 weeks

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Ely, Iowa) – 111 weeks

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 112 weeks

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska)

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (I-35 – Story City, Iowa) – 7 weeks

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Boone, Iowa) – 108 weeks

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 116 weeks

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (Marshalltown, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Les’s Auto – Boone, Iowa) – 90 weeks

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Les’s Auto – Boone, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - DEANNA MCCLAIN
Deanna McClain (Ames, Iowa) – 1 week

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 117 weeks

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Enlsey-Gorshe (Colorado Airspace) – 1 week

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - JENNIE GREEN
Jennie Green (California) – 1 week

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Boone, Iowa) – 37 weeks

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES -  JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (League City, Texas) – 97 weeks

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES -  JOE DUFF
Joe Duff

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - JOHNATHAN STENSLAND
Johnathan Stensland (Ogden, Iowa) – 1 week

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Nevada, Iowa) – 96 weeks

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 121 weeks

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 81 weeks

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 36 weeks

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - LOWELL DAVIS
Lowell Davis (Bliss Cancer Center – Ames, Iowa) – 6 weeks

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt (Iowa) – 6 weeks

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Iowa) – 110 weeks


Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 31 weeks

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 52 weeks

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings (Ames, Iowa) – 5 weeks

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Jefferson, Iowa) – 37 weeks

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa) – 26 weeks

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES -  SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner (Johnston, Iowa) – 4 weeks

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES -  SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) – 82 weeks

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 25 weeks

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Iowa) – 119 weeks

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 35 weeks

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen (Clive, Iowa) – 6 weeks

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Rochester, Minnesota) – 40 weeks

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 108 weeks

WPC - WEEK 439 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine (Ledges State Park – Boone County, Iowa) – 2 weeks

38 participants! That is a great week! Ties CIRCLE for the most participants in a week this year!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ California
+ Colorado
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Nebraska
+ Minnesota
+ Pennsylvania
+ Texas

Thanks to Tamara’s trip to Minnesota, Minnesota was added to this year’s map! Thanks to Jen’s work trip, we also added Colorado AND California as well!!

Here is the Year 11 list of states where submissions have been taken (submissions taken in each state):

+ California (1)
+ Colorado (1)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Iowa (231)
+ Kansas (9)
+ Michigan (2)
+ Minnesota (1)
+ Nebraska (8)
+ New York (1)
+ Pennsylvania (6)
+ South Dakota (2)
+ Texas (11)

12 states so far! No bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple states:

+ Mary Green (MI, IA)
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY)
+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO)
+ Tamara Peterson (IA, MN)

There were a couple of major milestones this week. Sabas joined the Half-Year Club! WooHoo! Then Mindi joined the 1 Year Club! That is a double WooHoo!

Another awesome development. The first ever submission from Deanna McClain. Hopefully the beginning of big things in the future! It was also the first ever submission from Jennie Green! I expect that to be more of a one-off, but you never know. You never know.

But it wasn’t all good news. Quite a few streaks bit the dust! Adam, Evie, and Jason couldn’t build on last week’s submission and their streaks were over before they started. Elainie’s streak is over at 3. Worst of all, Mary’s streak is no more after 6 solid weeks.

But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:


WEEK 440 - ORANGE
ORANGE

ORANGE! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

I look forward to your interpretation!

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing your idea of ORANGE in this place in this place that loves all colors next Monday.

The Weekly Photo Challenge Year in Review

As yesterday closed the book on Year 10 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE, now seems like a good time to review all that happened.

There were 59 different people that submitted photos. Ranging from submitting 1 picture to 124 pictures.

There were 2,311 photos submitted.

The average week was 31.1 participants.

The average week had 44.4 submissions.

The most popular week was Week 422. The theme was #INSTAGOOD. There were 41 participants.

The most popular week by submissions was Week 405. The theme was FLOWER. There were 62 submissions.

3 themes tied for least popular theme by participants. TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES; REFLECTION; and SUNRISE, SUNSET each has only 25 participants.

TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES was the least popular theme by submissions. It received only 30 submissions.

Here is my favorite submission from all 59 different people that submitted and some statistics about each participant.


WEEK 397 - FRIENDS - HEATHER COURTNEY
Heather Courtney
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - PEPPER DUNCAN
Pepper Duncan
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WEEK 419 - BLACK & WHITE - COREY FAUST
Corey Faust
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WEEK 423 - VINTAGE -  ADAM GORDON
Adam Gordon
1 week – 2%
3 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 423 - VINTAGE - HARRISON GORSHE
Harrison Gorshe
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WEEK 382 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WEEK 400 - HAPPY - STEPHANIE KIM
Stephanie Kim
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WPC 433 - HUMANS - CARRIE MOELLERS
Carrie Moellers
1 week – 2%
1 submission
Current Streak: 1 week

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - MIKE PARMELEE
Mike Parmelee
1 week – 2%
1 submission
Current Streak: 1 week

WEEK 418 - SKY - ERNIE REDD
Ernie Redd
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WEEK 426 - FOOD - DIANE SHARP
Diane Sharp
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - JULIE SHARP
Julie Sharp
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - LORI BACKOUS
Lori Backous
2 weeks – 4%
3 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - MELISSA DEGENEFFE
Melissa Degeneffe
2 weeks – 4%
3 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - DERRICK GORSHE
Derrick Gorshe
2 weeks – 4%
2 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - LAYLA GORSHE
Layla Gorshe
2 weeks – 4%
2 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 388 - FRAME - SARAH KARBER
Sarah Karber
2 weeks – 4%
2 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 405 - FLOWER - JOHNATHAN STENSLAND
Johnathan Stensland
2 weeks – 4%
2 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - NADER PARSAEI
Nader Parsaei
3 weeks – 6%
3 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 421 - RELIGION - MYRIAH SHARP
Myriah Sharp
3 weeks – 6%
5 submissions
No current streaks

WEEK 394 - BLUE - PORTER DEGENEFFE
Porter Degeneffe
4 weeks – 8%
4 submissions
No current streaks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - EVIE GORSHE
Evie Gorshe
6 weeks – 12%
6 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 406 - 'SCAPE -AMY PETERSON
Amy Peterson
10 weeks – 19%
14 submissions
Current Streak: 1 week

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN -ELAINIE STENSLAND
Elainie Stensland
12 weeks – 23%
15 submissions
No current streak

WPC 430 - LINES - SUSANNA FUNK
Susanna Funk
14 weeks – 27%
19 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe
19 weeks – 37%
22 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 387 - PLAY - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee
23 weeks – 44.2%
26 submissions
No current streak

WPC 430 - LINES - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri
29 weeks – 56%
53 submissions
Current streak: 29 weeks

WPC 430 - LINES - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe
32 weeks – 62%
46 submissions
Current streak: 19 weeks

WEEK 409 - A SHAPE - MARY GREEN
Mary Green
32 weeks – 62%
68 submissions
Current streak: 2 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner
33 weeks – 63%
39 submissions
Current streak: 1 week

WEEK 416 - NATURE - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine
34 weeks – 65%
37 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 395 - ODD CAMERA ANGLE - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen
35 weeks – 67%
50 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland
35 weeks – 67%
72 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 408 - TIME - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez
43 weeks – 83%
43 submissions
Current streak: 20 weeks

WEEK 419 - BLACK & WHITE - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings
43 weeks – 83%
60 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 399 - SCHOOL - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell
46 weeks – 88%
124 submissions
Current streak: 46 weeks

WEEK 423 - VINTAGE - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown
47 weeks – 90%
77 submissions
Current streak: 31 weeks

WEEK 419 - BLACK & WHITE - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard
49 weeks – 94%
62 submissions
Current streaks: 31 weeks

WEEK 396 - SCENES FROM YOUR COUCH - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest
50 weeks – 96%
50 submissions
Current streaks: 25 weeks

WEEK 402 - PARK - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler
51 weeks – 98%
55 submissions
Current streak: 1 week

WEEK 419 - BLACK & WHITE - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler
51 weeks – 98%
81 submissions
Current streak: 30 weeks

WEEK 416 - NATURE - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson
51 weeks – 98%
56 submissions
Current streak: 34 weeks

WEEK 395 - ODD CAMERA ANGLE - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin
52 weeks – 100%
55 submissions
Current streak: 104 weeks

WEEK 418 - SKY - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley
52 weeks – 100%
55 submissions
Current streak: 113 weeks

WEEK 420 - ARCHITECTURE - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker
52 weeks – 100%
60 submissions
Current streak: 90 weeks

WEEK 396 - SCENES FROM YOUR COUCH - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett
52 weeks – 100%
52 submissions
Current streak: 537 weeks

WEEK 408 - TIME - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett
52 weeks – 100%
91 submissions
Current streak: 75 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman
52 weeks – 100%
107 submissions
Current streak: 115 weeks

WEEK 404 - TEXTURE - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard
52 weeks – 100%
59 submissions
Current streak: 80 weeks

WEEK 423 - VINTAGE - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff
52 weeks – 100%
71 submissions
Current streak: 91 weeks

WEEK 419 - BLACK & WHITE - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler
52 weeks – 100%
111 submissions
Current streak: 102 weeks

WEEK 419 - BLACK & WHITE - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause
52 weeks – 100%
89 submissions
Current streak: 84 weeks

WEEK 395 - ODD CAMERA ANGLE - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton
52 weeks – 100%
58 submissions
Current streak: 110 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen
52 weeks – 100%
72 submissions
Current streak: 111 weeks

WEEK 416 - NATURE - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp
52 weeks – 100%
72 submissions
Current streak: 105 weeks

WEEK 419 - BLACK & WHITE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland
52 weeks – 100%
90 submissions
Current streak: 102 weeks

WEEK 406 - 'SCAPE - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot
52 weeks – 100%
96 submissions
Current streak: 76 weeks

WEEK 385 - SILENCE - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth
52 weeks – 100%
54 submissions
Current streak: 106 weeks

Here are a few quick stats from last year:

+ 44 different participants
+ 1811 photos submitted
+ Least popular theme for participation was ROCK with 16 participants
+ Most popular theme for participation was SELF-PORTRAIT with 31 participants
+ Least popular theme for submissions was ROCK with 20 submissions
+ Most popular theme for submission was LINES with 51 submissions
+ The average week had 24.6 participants
+ The average week had 34.8 submissions

To put in perspective compared to last year:

+ 15 more different participants.
+ 500 more submissions.
+ The most popular theme had 10 more participants.
+ The most popular theme by submissions has 11 more submissions.
+ The average participation was up almost 7 participants per week.
+ The average submissions was up nearly 10 per week.

Hopefully Year 11 has a similar amount of growth!

WPC – WEEK 433 – HUMANS

It is time to share the July image from the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar image. It is a picture taken with Rodan139 of somebody setting off fireworks on the 4th of July in my neighborhood.


2024 Calendar - July
JULY

I chose this image since I felt the fireworks represented the 4th of July well.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

CAMERA: Hasselblad L1D020c
DATE: July 24, 2023 – 1010 PM
LENS: 28mm f/2.8
FOCAL LENGTH: 28mm
APERTURE: f/5.6
EXPOSURE: 3 seconds
ISO: 400

Tomorrow I will share the August image!

+++++++

HUMANS! They are all over the place! But are there enough of them kicking around to make HUMANS a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, December 25, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Evie Gorshe – 1 week
2-Mary Green – 1 week
3-Elainie Hernandez – 1 week
4-Willy McAlpine – 1 week
5-Alexis Stensland – 1 week
6-Scott Degeneffe – 18 weeks
7-Sabas Hernandez – 19 weeks
8-Mike Vest – 24 weeks
9-Sheri Fakhouri – 28 weeks (3)
10-Logan Kahler – 29 weeks (3)
11-Nathanial Brown – 30 weeks (2)
12-Jesse Howard – 30 weeks
13-Tamara Peterson – 33 weeks (2)
14-Mindi Terrell – 45 weeks (3)
15-Linda Bennett – 74 weeks (2)
16-Sarah Toot – 75 weeks (2)
17-Angie DeWaard – 79 weeks
18-Dawn Krause – 83 weeks
19-Kim Barker – 89 weeks
20-Joe Duff – 90 weeks (2)
21-Teresa Kahler – 101 weeks (3)
22-Carla Stensland – 101 weeks (2)
23-Micky Augustin – 103 weeks
24-Andy Sharp – 104 weeks
25-Bill Wentworth – 105 weeks (3)
26-Cathie Morton – 109 weeks
27-Elizabeth Nordeen – 110 weeks
28-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 112 weeks
29-Kio Dettman – 114 weeks (3)

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:


WPC 433 - HUMANS - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 1 week

WPC 433 - HUMANS - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner (Iowa) – 1 week

WPC 433 - HUMANS - CARRIE MOELLERS
Carrie Moellers (Mambai, India) – 1 week

WPC 433 - HUMANS - AMY PETERSON
Amy Peterson (Jewell, Iowa) – 1 week

WPC 433 - HUMANS - AMY PETERSON
Amy Peterson (Ames, Iowa)

WPC 433 - HUMANS - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Michigan) – 2 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Michigan)

WPC 433 - HUMANS - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Goldie’s – Prairie City, Iowa) – 19 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 20 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest (Noel, Missouri) – 25 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa) – 29 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa)

WPC 433 - HUMANS - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 30 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

WPC 433 - HUMANS - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Iowa) – 31 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS -JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Sun Records – Memphis, Tennessee) – 31 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS -JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Big River Crossing – Memphis, Tennessee)

WPC 433 - HUMANS - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Swede Valley Church – Rural Boone County) – 34 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 46 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

WPC 433 - HUMANS - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

WPC 433 - HUMANS - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 75 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas)

WPC 433 - HUMANS - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas)

WPC 433 - HUMANS - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Kansas City, Missouri) – 76 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 80 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Iowa) – 84 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Iowa) – 90 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (League City, Texas) – 91 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 102 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

WPC 433 - HUMANS - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

WPC 433 - HUMANS - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Hilton Coliseum – Ames, Iowa) – 102 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Ogden, Iowa)

WPC 433 - HUMANS - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Story County, Iowa) – 104 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Iowa) – 105 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Saint Louis, Missouri) – 106 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton (Waukee, Iowa) – 110 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 111 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Tursi’s Latin King – Des Moines, Iowa) – 113 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 115 weeks

WPC 433 - HUMANS - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (Beale Street – Memphis, Tennessee) – 537 weeks

30 participants! That is a pretty great week, considering the holiday! Thanks to Cathie’s sister we end the year with a new country. India! I believe that to be the first submission from Asia ever for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Kansas
+ India
+ Iowa
+ Missouri
+ Tennessee
+ Texas

Here is the final calendar year list for states:

+ Arizona
+ Arkansas
+ California
+ Colorado
+ Florida
+ Georgia
+ Hawaii
+ Idaho
+ Illinois
+ Indiana
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Kentucky
+ Louisiana
+ Maryland
+ Michigan
+ Minnesota
+ Mississippi
+ Missouri
+ Montana
+ Nebraska
+ New Hampshire
+ New Jersey
+ New Mexico
+ New York
+ Nevada
+ North Carolina
+ North Dakota
+ Ohio
+ Oklahoma
+ Oregon
+ Pennsylvania
+ South Carolina
+ South Dakota
+ Tennessee
+ Texas
+ Utah
+ Vermont
+ Virgin Islands
+ Washington
+ Washington D.C.
+ Wisconsin
+ Wyoming

41 states and 1 district and 1 territory! That is pretty impressive! Over 80% of the way there!

The state nobody submitted from are:
+ Alabama
+ Alaska
+ Connecticut
+ Delaware
+ Maine
+ Massachusetts
+ Rhode Island
+ Virginia
+ West Virginia

Here is the final map for 2023:



The Outside of the United States map is currently:

+ Spain
+ British Virgin Islands
+ Mexico
+ Nassau Bahamas
+ Canada
+ Peru
+ France
+ Austria
+ Germany
+ Italy
+ India
+ Slovenia
+ Belize

The big milestone this week was Micky joining the 2 Year Streak Club! WooHoo!

But not everybody rang in the new year with their streak intact. Evie’s couldn’t build on last week’s submission. Either could Elainie. Or Willy. Or Alexis.

But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:


Week 434 - Sunday Morning
SUNDAY MORNING – SUGGESTED BY SARAH TOOT

SUNDAY MORNING! What a great first theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

This year I’m not going to give a description of the theme. I’m going to trust you can figure it out on your own and through the theme reveal image. However, if you do have a question, don’t be afraid to ask.

Here is an updated list of the rules for Year 11:


1. The picture must be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch and take pictures challenge!
2. There is a limit of 2 submissions per person per theme.
3. Deadline to submit your submission is 11 AM next Monday.
4. To be considered the photographer of an image, you have to be the one clicks the shutter. If you hand your camera over to somebody else to take a picture of you, you are NOT the photographer of that image.
5. No screen captures.

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing your idea of SUNDAY MORNING in this place that likes to have plenty of submissions by Sunday morning next Monday.

WPC – WEEK 428 – ANIMAL

It is the last collection of submissions for the month of November, so it is a good time to revisit the THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE FAQ. I’ve noticed an uptick in small-sized submissions lately. It wouldn’t hurt to review the resolution FAQ if you haven’t looked at it lately.

Award winning photographers? Really?

Yes. I can think of at least 10 photographers that participate regularly that have won a photography award of some kind.

Is this a competition?
NO.

Is there a limit to the number of submissions I can have each week?

Yes. That limit is 3. If you send me more than 3, I will post the first 3 that you send. I’m not trying to harsh your photography buzz, but any more than that starts to overwhelm the other submissions and it takes me about 5 minutes to take a picture from my inbox to code it on the website. So I have to manage my workload. This limit is tentatively scheduled to go down to 2 at the beginning of 2024. Unless there is a sudden big falloff in participants.

If you are going to submit more than one picture, I strongly urge you to choose completely different subjects for each submission. If you are submitting multiple pictures of the same subject, make sure that each picture is saying something unique.

If participation rates climb, that limit of 3 is subject to lower.

Can I send you several pictures and have you pick the best one?

No! No! NO! If those words come out of your mouth or your keyboard, I consider that to be a non-submission.

Do you ever question whether somebody’s submission fits the theme?

Meh. Only if I think somebody is clearly confusing this week’s theme with last week or next week’s theme. Otherwise, if the submission makes sense in your head, that is good enough for me. However, I would urge you to not try to fit your favorite subject into the theme. This isn’t a challenge to share a picture every week of your kid or your business or your pet. It is a challenge to take pictures of different things every week. Which isn’t to say subjects can’t be repeated, but you shouldn’t become reliant on the same ones.

Why can’t I submit after 11 AM on Mondays if the post doesn’t publish until 12:01 PM?

I go to lunch at 11 AM. I leave my office. I’m not near a computer. At 11 AM I hit “Schedule” and then I go throw food down my throat. 167 hours is more than enough time to send a submission. Okay, 166 hours and 59 minutes. You got me.

Do I have to wait until Monday morning to submit?

Absolutely not! In fact I appreciate the submissions that make it to me by Sunday evening. Makes the job of putting this together on Monday morning much easier!

Are there resolution requirements for submissions?

I won’t turn down submissions that are too small. I will probably ask you for a picture of greater resolution if it is really small. The typical 4 x 6 image posted to my website has a resolution of 1280 pixels x 853 pixels. While a 400 x 300 image might look okay on your phone, it looks like trash on a computer monitor. I prefer images that are at least 1000 pixels at their widest point, but don’t ban smaller pictures at this point.

What format should my submission be?

.JPG but .PNG also works.

If I write a description of my image will you include that in your post?

No. Photography is art that should stand on its own. Only exception is the SLICE OF LIFE theme. But if you let me know where the picture was taken, I will include that.

When will you start accepting suggestions for next year’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE themes?

I will take suggestions only and ONLY in the comments sections of the THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE posts the last week of October and the 1st week of November.

+++++++

The themes for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE have been selected. There are 53 Mondays in 2024, so there are 53 themes for Year 11. Here are the selected themes, in no particular order:

1. Necessity (Joe Duff)
2. Sentimental (Joe Duff)
3. Monochrome (Joe Duff)
4. Out-of-Date (Angie DeWaard)
5. Clothing (Angie DeWaard)
6. Symmetry (Sarah Toot)
7. Rule of Thirds (Sarah Toot)
8. Wheels (Sarah Toot)
9. 6:00 PM (Sarah Toot)
10. Ugly (Sarah Toot)
11. Emotion (Andy Sharp/Sarah Toot)
12. Animal (Shannon Bardole-Foley)
13. Passion (Shannon Bardole-Foley)
14. Anything But a Cat (Andy Sharp)
15. Leading Lines (ISF Theme)
16. Trains, Planes, and Automobiles
17. #Instagood
18. Street Photography
19. Flower
20. Slice of Life
21. Still Life
22. Art
23. Ruins
24. Road Trip
25. Sign
26. Purple
27. Orange
28. Path
29. Self-Portrait
30. Abstract
31. Games
32. Glass
33. Reflection
34. Macro
35. Hobbies
36. Work
37. Entertainment
38. Park
39. Breakfast
40. Time
41. Circle
42. Square
43. Faceless Portrait
44. Sunday Morning (Sarah Toot)
45. Science (Joe Duff)
46. Camera
47. Window View (Sarah Toot)
48. Decoration
49. Letters or Numbers
50. Places
51. Music
52. Not Your Hometown (Andy Sharp)
53. Holidays

+++++++

ANIMAL! Almost everyone loves an ANIMAL or two, but did they find one to photograph to make ANIMAL a popular theme? You’ll have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, November 20, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 1 week
2-Evie Gorshe – 1 week
3-Mary Green – 1 week (2)
4-Amy Peterson – 1 week
5-Susanna Funk – 2 weeks
6-Suzie Brannen – 3 weeks
7-Elainie Hernandez – 3 weeks
8-Alexis Stensland – 6 weeks
9-Scott Degeneffe – 13 weeks (2)
10-Sabas Hernandez – 14 weeks
11-Mike Vest – 20 weeks
12-Sheri Fakhouri – 23 weeks (2)
13-Logan Kahler – 24 weeks (3)
14-Nathanial Brown – 25 weeks
15-Jesse Howard – 25 weeks
16-Tamara Peterson – 28 weeks
17-Mindi Terrell – 40 weeks (2)
18-Brandon Kahler – 63 weeks
19-Linda Bennett – 69 weeks
20-Sarah Toot – 70 weeks
21-Angie DeWaard – 74 weeks
22-Dawn Krause – 78 weeks (2)
23-Kim Barker – 84 weeks
24-Joe Duff – 85 weeks
25-Teresa Kahler – 96 weeks
26-Carla Stensland – 96 weeks
27-Micky Augustin – 98 weeks
28-Andy Sharp – 99 weeks (2)
29-Bill Wentworth – 100 weeks
30-Cathie Morton – 104 weeks
31-Elizabeth Nordeen – 105 weeks (2)
32-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 107 weeks
33-Kio Dettman – 109 weeks

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:


WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 110 weeks

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Iowa) – 108 weeks

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Indiana) – 106 weeks

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Indiana)

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton (Denver, Colorado) – 105 weeks

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Nebraska)

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Iowa) – 100 weeks

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Iowa)

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Iowa)

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Iowa)- 99 weeks

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 97 weeks

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Iowa) – 97 weeks

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (Texas) – 86 weeks

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Galveston, Texas) – 85 weeks

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Iowa) – 79 weeks

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Iowa)

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 75 weeks

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Baltimore, Maryland) – 71 weeks

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Iowa) – 70 weeks

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas)

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 64 weeks

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 41 weeks

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 29 weeks

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Iowa) – 26 weeks

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Iowa) – 26 weeks

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - LOGAN KAHELR
Logan Kahler (Iowa) – 25 weeks

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - LOGAN KAHELR
Logan Kahler (Iowa)

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa) – 24 weeks

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa)

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest (Iowa) – 21 weeks

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 15 weeks

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 14 weeks

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa)

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Iowa) – 7 weeks

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - ELAINIE HERNANDEZ
Elainie Hernandez (Iowa) – 4 weeks

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - SUSANNA FUNK
Susanna Funk (West Des Moines, Iowa) – 3 weeks

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - AMY PETERSON
Amy Peterson (Iowa) – 2 weeks

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Iowa) – 2 weeks

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Iowa)

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Iowa) – 2 weeks

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 428 - ANIMAL - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (Boone, Iowa)

34 participants again this week! A pretty good week!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Colorado
+ Indiana
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Maryland
+ Nebraska
+ Texas

Thanks to Elizabeth’s Thanksgiving travels, we were able to add Indiana to the list. Down to 9 states that haven’t been represented! I don’t know we will get any of the missing states, but even if we don’t, this is still pretty impressive!

Here is the current calendar year list for states:

+ Arizona
+ Arkansas
+ California
+ Colorado
+ Florida
+ Georgia
+ Hawaii
+ Idaho
+ Illinois
+ Indiana
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Kentucky
+ Louisiana
+ Maryland
+ Michigan
+ Minnesota
+ Mississippi
+ Missouri
+ Montana
+ Nebraska
+ New Hampshire
+ New Jersey
+ New Mexico
+ New York
+ Nevada
+ North Carolina
+ North Dakota
+ Ohio
+ Oklahoma
+ Oregon
+ Pennsylvania
+ South Carolina
+ South Dakota
+ Tennessee
+ Texas
+ Utah
+ Vermont
+ Washington
+ Washington D.C.
+ Wisconsin
+ Wyoming

41 states and 1 district! That is pretty impressive! Over 80% of the way there! Every continental state west of the Mississippi is now accounted for.

The Outside of the United States map is currently:

+ Spain
+ British Virgin Islands
+ Mexico
+ Nassau Bahamas
+ Canada
+ Peru
+ France
+ Austria
+ Germany
+ Italy
+ Slovenia

The big milestone this weeks was Andy joining the Triple Digit Club! WooHoo! Plus Nathanial joined the Half Year Club! WooHoo! Jesse did too! WooHoo!

But it wasn’t all good news. Evie’s couldn’t build on last week’s submission. Suzie’s streak ends at 3.

But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:


WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN
HOMETOWN

HOMETOWN! What a great theme for Year 10 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a HOMETOWN picture? It is simply a picture that represents your HOMETOWN. It doesn’t have to be the HOMETOWN you grew up in. Or even the town you currently call home. But at the very least, it should be a picture that suggest a HOMETOWN for somebody.

While thinking about possible subjects for your ANIMAL picture, meditate on the following quote and I have no doubt you will come up with a fabulous image:

I was eight years old
And running with a dime in my hand
To the bus stop to pick
Up a paper for my old man
I’d sit on his lap in that big old Buick
And steer as we drove through town
He’d tousle my hair
And say, “Son, take a good look around”
This is your hometown

In ’65 tension was running high
At my high school
There was a lot of fights
Between the black and white
There was nothing you could do
Two cars at a light on a Saturday night
In the back seat there was a gun
Words were passed in a shotgun blast
Troubled times had come
To my hometown

Now Main Street’s whitewashed windows
And vacant stores
Seems like there ain’t nobody
Wants to come down here no more
They’re closing down the textile mill
Across the railroad tracks
Foreman says, “These jobs are going, boys
And they ain’t coming back
To your hometown

Last night me and Kate we laid in bed
Talking about getting out
Packing up our bags, maybe heading south
I’m thirty-five, we got a boy of our own now
Last night I sat him up behind the wheel
And said, “Son, take a good look around
This is your hometown”
-Bruce Springsteen

I look forward to your interpretation!

RULES

The picture has to be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch (unless you are taking your picture from the couch) and take pictures challenge. There is a limit of 3 submissions per participant. To be considered the photographer, you have to be the one that takes the picture. Don’t be stealing the work of other artists. You can submit pictures for other photographers that took pictures with your camera or phone, but give credit where credit is due.

You can send your images to either bennett@photography139.com OR you may text them to my Pixel 5.

That is it. Thems the rules!

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing your idea of HOMETOWN in this place that originates from my hometown next Monday.

WPC – WEEK 427 – PORTRAIT

A reminder that if you are looking for a Thanksgiving meal or a place to volunteer on Thanksgiving my church is hosting it’s annual Thanksgiving meal again this year. Information below:



I will be there for at least part of the day!

+++++++

I haven’t selected the 52 themes for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. But here is a list of the suggested themes:

-Science
-Remorse
-Necessity, something critical to your way of life
-Monochrome
-Tourism
-Sentimental
-Dog
-Screenshot
-Anything in the world but a cat
-Roman Numeral
-Outside your home county
– Memories/Memorial/etc.
– Clothing
– Out-of-date (I was thinking specifically of technology or items like pay phones and outhouses here, but it could be more expansive)
– Hands
– Struggle (or challenge)
– A stranger
– Fashion
– Starburst
– Symmetry
– Rule of 1/3’s
– Wheels
– Self portrait
– Emotion
– 6:00pm
– Warmth
– Candlelight
– Window view
– Ugly
– Sunday morning
-ANIMAL or PET
-PASSION

Definitely several of these will make next year’s list! Obviously ANYTHING IN THE WORLD BUT A CAT is a no-brainer!

+++++++

PORTRAIT! Everyone has taken one or been in one. But did enough people take a PORTRAIT to make it a popular theme? You’ll have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, November 13, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Susanna Funk – 1 week
2-Diane Sharp – 1 week
3-Suzie Brannen – 2 weeks
4-Monica Jennings – 2 weeks
5-Elainie Hernandez – 2 weeks
6-Sara Lockner – 2 weeks
7-Alexis Stensland – 5 weeks
8-Scott Degeneffe – 12 weeks (3)
9-Sabas Hernandez – 13 weeks
10-Willy McAlpine – 13 weeks
11-Mike Vest – 19 weeks
12-Sheri Fakhouri – 22 weeks
13-Logan Kahler – 23 weeks
14-Nathanial Brown – 24 weeks
15-Jesse Howard – 24 weeks
16-Tamara Peterson – 27 weeks
17-Mindi Terrell – 39 weeks
18-Brandon Kahler – 63 weeks
19-Linda Bennett – 68 weeks
20-Sarah Toot – 69 weeks (2)
21-Angie DeWaard – 73 weeks
22-Dawn Krause – 77 weeks
23-Kim Barker – 83 weeks
24-Joe Duff – 84 weeks
25-Teresa Kahler – 95 weeks
26-Carla Stensland – 95 weeks (2)
27-Micky Augustin – 97 weeks
28-Andy Sharp – 98 weeks (2)
29-Bill Wentworth – 99 weeks
30-Cathie Morton – 103 weeks
31-Elizabeth Nordeen – 104 weeks
32-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 106 weeks
33-Kio Dettman – 108 weeks (2)

The third week of each month I like to share a map of all the states that have had pictures taken in them that were submitted for this calendar year. Well, I checked my calendar and this is the third Monday of the month. Here is the map, heading into this week:



That is a lot of states filled in. In fact, going into this week, there are only 10 states that haven’t been visited and photographed by somebody that submits here. I don’t think there is any chance we will fill in the entire map this year, but we sure have gotten a lot closer than I ever would have guessed! There are 6 weeks left in this calendar year. I don’t anticipate any more states being filled in at this point. Maybe Indiana. But that is a pretty full map if it doesn’t change.

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:


WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Sonnette, Montana) – 98 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - SHNNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Iowa) – 107 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Iowa) – 84 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (Jack Trice Stadium – Ames, Iowa)

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Jewell, Iowa) – 69 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen (Iowa) – 3 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Dobson Pipe Organ Builders – Lake City, Iowa) – 25 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT -  SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa)- 13 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Iowa) – 109 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Iowa) – 74 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (Texas) – 85 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 23 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa)

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - SUSANNA FUNK
Susanna Funk (Iowa) – 2 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - EVIE GORSHE
Evie Gorshe (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Manchester, Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Manchester, Iowa)

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - ELAINIE HERNANDEZ
Elainie Hernandez (Ledges State Park – Boone County, Iowa) – 3 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa) – 14 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Iowa) – 25 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 64 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Iowa) – 24 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Iowa)

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Iowa)

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 96 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Iowa) – 78 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Iowa)

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton (Iowa) – 104 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 105 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa)

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - AMY PETERSON
Amy Peterson (Idaho Falls, Idaho) – 1 week

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 28 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (UNI Dome – Cedar Falls, Iowa) – 99 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (UNI Dome – Cedar Falls, Iowa)

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (east Des Moines, Iowa) – 6 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Ames, Iowa) – 96 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (New Jersey) – 70 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 40 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest (Iowa) – 20 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Nebraska) – 100 weeks

34 participants! A pretty good week by current standards!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Idaho
+ Iowa
+ Montana
+ Nebraska
+ New Jersey
+ Texas

Here is the current calendar year list for states:

+ Arizona
+ Arkansas
+ California
+ Colorado
+ Florida
+ Georgia
+ Hawaii
+ Idaho
+ Illinois
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Kentucky
+ Louisiana
+ Maryland
+ Michigan
+ Minnesota
+ Mississippi
+ Missouri
+ Montana
+ Nebraska
+ New Hampshire
+ New Jersey
+ New Mexico
+ New York
+ Nevada
+ North Carolina
+ North Dakota
+ Ohio
+ Oklahoma
+ Oregon
+ Pennsylvania
+ South Carolina
+ South Dakota
+ Tennessee
+ Texas
+ Utah
+ Vermont
+ Washington
+ Washington D.C.
+ Wisconsin
+ Wyoming

40 states and 1 district! That is pretty impressive! Over 80% of the way there! Every continental state west of the Mississippi is now accounted for.

This is the list of states currently missing:
+ Alabama
+ Alaska
+ Connecticut
+ Delaware
+ Indiana
+ Maine
+ Massachusetts
+ Rhode Island
+ Virginia
+ West Virginia

The Outside of the United States map is currently:

+ Spain
+ British Virgin Islands
+ Mexico
+ Nassau Bahamas
+ Canada
+ Peru
+ France
+ Austria
+ Germany
+ Italy
+ Slovenia

The big milestone this week is Bill joining the Triple Digit Club! Also Cathie joins the 2 Year Streak Club. I forgot to mention it last week when Elizabeth joined it or a few weeks ago when Shannon joined and a few weeks before that when Kio joined it! Also, Dawn joined the Year and Half Club!

But it was all good news. Diane couldn’t build on her submission from last week. Monica’s 2 week streak went poof! As did Sara’s. And worst of all… Willy’s streak ends at unlucky 13.

But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:


WEEK 428 - ANIMAL
ANIMAL

ANIMAL! What a great theme for Year 10 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a ANIMIMAL picture? It is simply a picture of an ANIMAL. That could be a live ANIMAL. It could be a stuffed ANIMAL. It could be a box of meat. It could be a pet. It could be a wild animal. It could be something related to an ANIMAL. The possibilities are endless!

While thinking about possible subjects for your ANIMAL picture, meditate on the following quote and I have no doubt that you will come up with a fabulous image:

Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.
-Anatole France

I look forward to your interpretation!

RULES

The picture has to be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch (unless you are taking your picture from the couch) and take pictures challenge. There is a limit of 3 submissions per participant. To be considered the photographer, you have to be the one that takes the picture. Don’t be stealing the work of other artists. You can submit pictures for other photographers that took pictures with your camera or phone, but give credit where credit is due.

You can send your images to either bennett@photography139.com OR you may text them to my Pixel 5.

That is it. Thems the rules!

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing your idea of ANIMAL in this place that loves dogs and so many other animals next Monday.

WPC – WEEK 424 – FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM

NOTE: – THIS IS ONE OF TWO POSTS WHERE YOU CAN SUBMIT SUGGESTIONS FOR NEXT YEAR’S THEMES. THE LAST MONDAY IN OCTOBER AND THE 1ST MONDAY IN NOVEMBER ARE WHEN SUGGESTIONS CAN BE MADE. THOSE SUGGESTIONS HAVE TO BE MADE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION OF THOSE POSTS. NOT VIA EMAIL, TEXT MESSAGE, TEAMS, PHONE CONVERSATION, SNAPCHAT. ONLY IN THE COMMENTS SECTIONS OF THOSE 2 POSTS.

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It is the last collection of submissions for the month of October, so it is a good time to revisit the THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE FAQ. I’ve noticed an uptick in small-sized submissions lately. It wouldn’t hurt to review the resolution FAQ if you haven’t looked at it lately.

Award winning photographers? Really?

Yes. I can think of at least 10 photographers that participate regularly that have won a photography award of some kind.

Is this a competition?
NO.

Is there a limit to the number of submissions I can have each week?

Yes. That limit is 3. If you send me more than 3, I will post the first 3 that you send. I’m not trying to harsh your photography buzz, but any more than that starts to overwhelm the other submissions and it takes me about 5 minutes to take a picture from my inbox to code it on the website. So I have to manage my workload. This limit is tentatively scheduled to go down to 2 at the beginning of 2024. Unless there is a sudden big falloff in participants.

If you are going to submit more than one picture, I strongly urge you to choose completely different subjects for each submission. If you are submitting multiple pictures of the same subject, make sure that each picture is saying something unique.

If participation rates climb, that limit of 3 is subject to lower.

Can I send you several pictures and have you pick the best one?

No! No! NO! If those words come out of your mouth or your keyboard, I consider that to be a non-submission.

Do you ever question whether somebody’s submission fits the theme?

Meh. Only if I think somebody is clearly confusing this week’s theme with last week or next week’s theme. Otherwise, if the submission makes sense in your head, that is good enough for me. However, I would urge you to not try to fit your favorite subject into the theme. This isn’t a challenge to share a picture every week of your kid or your business or your pet. It is a challenge to take pictures of different things every week. Which isn’t to say subjects can’t be repeated, but you shouldn’t become reliant on the same ones.

Why can’t I submit after 11 AM on Mondays if the post doesn’t publish until 12:01 PM?

I go to lunch at 11 AM. I leave my office. I’m not near a computer. At 11 AM I hit “Schedule” and then I go throw food down my throat. 167 hours is more than enough time to send a submission. Okay, 166 hours and 59 minutes. You got me.

Do I have to wait until Monday morning to submit?

Absolutely not! In fact I appreciate the submissions that make it to me by Sunday evening. Makes the job of putting this together on Monday morning much easier!

Are there resolution requirements for submissions?

I won’t turn down submissions that are too small. I will probably ask you for a picture of greater resolution if it is really small. The typical 4 x 6 image posted to my website has a resolution of 1280 pixels x 853 pixels. While a 400 x 300 image might look okay on your phone, it looks like trash on a computer monitor. I prefer images that are at least 1000 pixels at their widest point, but don’t ban smaller pictures at this point.

What format should my submission be?

.JPG but .PNG also works.

If I write a description of my image will you include that in your post?

No. Photography is art that should stand on its own. Only exception is the SLICE OF LIFE theme. But if you let me know where the picture was taken, I will include that.

When will you start accepting suggestions for next year’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE themes?

I will take suggestions only and ONLY in the comments sections of the THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE posts the last week of October and the 1st week of November.

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FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM! Many of us are very passionate about our Iowa State Cyclones or whatever team you mistakenly root for. But was there enough passion to make FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM a popular submission? You’ll have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, October 22, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Adam Gordon – 1 week (3)
2-Harrison Gorshe – 1 week
3-Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 2 weeks
4-Evie Gorshe – 2 weeks
5-Mary Green – 2 weeks (3)
6-Sara Lockner – 2 weeks
7-Alexis Stensland – 2 weeks (2)
8-Elainie Hernandez – 4 weeks
9-Scott Degeneffe – 9 weeks
10-Sabas Hernandez – 10 weeks
11-Willy McAlpine – 10 weeks
12-Mike Vest – 16 weeks
13-Sheri Fakhouri – 19 weeks (2)
14-Monica Jennings – 20 weeks
15-Logan Kahler – 20 weeks (2)
16-Nathanial Brown – 21 weeks
17-Jesse Howard – 21 weeks
18-Tamara Peterson – 24 weeks
19-Mindi Terrell – 36 weeks (3)
20-Brandon Kahler – 60 weeks
21-Linda Bennett – 65 weeks (2)
22-Sarah Toot – 66 weeks (2)
23-Angie DeWaard – 70 weeks (2)
24-Dawn Krause – 74 weeks (2)
25-Kim Barker – 80 weeks
26-Joe Duff – 81 weeks
27-Teresa Kahler – 92 weeks (3)
28-Carla Stensland – 92 weeks
29-Micky Augustin – 94 weeks
30-Andy Sharp – 95 weeks
31-Bill Wentworth – 96 weeks
32-Cathie Morton – 100 weeks
33-Elizabeth Nordeen – 101 weeks
34-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 103 weeks
35-Kio Dettman – 105 weeks (3)

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:


WEEK 424 - FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Ames, Iowa) – 71 weeks

WEEK 424 - FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 97 weeks

WEEK 424 - FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Coba, Quintana Roo, Mexico) – 104 weeks

WEEK 424 - FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine (Valencia, Spain) – 11 weeks

WEEK 424 - FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM - AMY PETERSON
Amy Peterson (Iowa) – 1 week

WEEK 424 - FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Ames, Iowa) – 93 weeks

WEEK 424 - FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (Texas) – 82 weeks

WEEK 424 - FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Iowa) – 106 weeks

WEEK 424 - FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM -LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Pennsylvania) – 66 weeks

WEEK 424 - FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM -LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Pennsylvania)

WEEK 424 - FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest (Iowa) – 17 weeks

WEEK 424 - FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM - SRAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania) – 67 weeks

WEEK 424 - FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Iowa) – 3 weeks

WEEK 424 - FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Florida) – 22 weeks

WEEK 424 - FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa) – 20 weeks

WEEK 424 - FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Iowa)

WEEK 424 - FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 10 weeks

WEEK 424 - FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Iowa) – 81 weeks

WEEK 424 - FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Iowa) – 75 weeks

WEEK 424 - FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (Iowa) – 11 weeks

WEEK 424 - FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa) – 37 weeks

WEEK 424 - FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Iowa)

WEEK 424 - FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Iowa) – 93 weeks

WEEK 424 - FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Iowa)

WEEK 424 - FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Norfolk, Nebraska) – 22 weeks

WEEK 424 - FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Iowa) – 95 weeks

WEEK 424 - FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 25 weeks

WEEK 424 - FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton (Iowa) – 101 weeks

WEEK 424 - FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 61 weeks

WEEK 424 - FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Iowa) – 96 weeks

WEEK 424 - FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Jack Trice Stadium – Ames, Iowa) – 102 weeks

WEEK 424 - FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Iowa) – 21 weeks

WEEK 424 - FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Jack Trice Stadium – Ames, Iowa) – 3 weeks

WEEK 424 - FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (Jack Trice Stadium – Ames, Iowa)

30 participants this week.

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Florida
+ Iowa
+ Mexico
+ Nebraska
+ Pennsylvania
+ Spain
+ Texas

Here is the current calendar year list for states:

+ Arizona
+ Arkansas
+ California
+ Colorado
+ Florida
+ Georgia
+ Hawaii
+ Idaho
+ Illinois
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Kentucky
+ Louisiana
+ Maryland
+ Michigan
+ Minnesota
+ Mississippi
+ Missouri
+ Montana
+ Nebraska
+ New Hampshire
+ New Jersey
+ New Mexico
+ New York
+ Nevada
+ North Carolina
+ North Dakota
+ Ohio
+ Oklahoma
+ Oregon
+ Pennsylvania
+ South Carolina
+ South Dakota
+ Tennessee
+ Texas
+ Utah
+ Vermont
+ Washington
+ Washington D.C.
+ Wisconsin
+ Wyoming

40 states and 1 district! That is pretty impressive! Over 75% of the way there! Every continental state west of the Mississippi is now accounted for.

The Outside of the United States map is currently:

+ Alto del Perdon – Spain
+ British Virgin Islands
+ Mexico (General)
+ Isla Mujeres, Mexico
+ Riviera Maya, Mexico
+ Nassau Bahamas
+ Ontario, Canada
+ Vallunareju Norte – Peru
+ Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
+ Puenta de la Reina, Spain
+ St. John pied de port, France
+ Vienna, Austria
+ Munich, Germany
+ Rome, Italy
+ Cannes, France
+ Koper, Slovenia

There were no major milestones this week. But there were a ton of streaks broken. Adam, Harrison, Jen, Evie, Sara, Elainie, and Monica all had their streaks broken.

But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:


WEEK 425 - SIGNS
SIGNS

SIGNS! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a SIGNS image? It is simply an image of a SIGN(S) or a singular SIGN. That is all there is to it.

While considering possible subjects for your SIGNS submissions meditate on the great songs about SIGNS and I have no doubt you will come up with a great image:

Signs Signs
Everywhere there’s signs
Messing up the scenery
Breaking my mind
Do this, don’t do that
Can’t you read the sign

Oh Say now mister Can’t you read
You got to have a shirt and tie to get a seat
You can’t watch No You can’t eat You ain’t supposed to be here

And the sign says “You got to have a membership card to get inside” Huh
And the sign says “Everybody welcome Come in Kneel down and pray”
But then they passed around a plate at the end of it all
And I didn’t have a penny to pay
So I got me a pen and paper And I made up my own sign
I said Thank you Lord for thinking about me I’m alive and doing fine

I look forward to seeing your interpretation.

RULES

The picture has to be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch (unless you are taking your picture from the couch) and take pictures challenge. There is a limit of 3 submissions per participant. To be considered the photographer, you have to be the one that takes the picture. Don’t be stealing the work of other artists. You can submit pictures for other photographers that took pictures with your camera or phone, but give credit where credit is due.

You can send your images to either bennett@photography139.com OR you may text them to my Pixel 5.

That is it. Thems the rules!

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing your idea of SIGNS in this place that tries to read them next Monday.